Life’s accidental savings

A lot of people talk about intentional savings: coupons, cooking at home, etc. But I recently realized that I have an awful lot of unintentional frugality, just based on how I live my life. I thought it’d interesting to enumerate:

Poultry only

This one actually surprised me, since I thought frozen chicken breast was more expensive than beef. But apparently I haven’t been paying attention to the skyrocketing costs of red meat.

This whole thing is especially accidental because I didn’t consciously choose to quit non-poultry meat. I’ve never been a big fan of fish, so that wasn’t much of an issue. And all the red meat options at college were gross. By the time I got home for winter break, I didn’t like the texture anymore. I figured it was healthier for me, so I never pushed the issue.

Working at home

This is the big one. I was surprised how many benefits there are:

I don’t have to buy office attire, which adds up quickly. Especially shoes. Instead, I can wear ratty old t-shirts around, which means my nicer clothes last longer.

No commute means less gas, but also less wear and tear on the car. That saves in the long run. Speaking of cars, we only need one since we’re both home all day.

Since I’m not in an office setting or terribly active when I’m at home, I can also re-wear clothes more often. This means less laundry, which means less water/electricity used.

I can also go longer between haircuts and colors without worrying about an unprofessional appearance. Oh, and I don’t feel the need to wear makeup every day, so the stuff I do buy lasts significantly longer.

Also, my working at home meant that my boss purchased my new computer for me. He gets to write it off as a business expense, but I think he’s just making sure he keeps his World’s Best Boss title.

Finally, I get to deduct the entire cost of the Internet as a business expense. That’s significant savings.

I will admit that working at home does incur some extra expenses: heating/cooling the house all day, more use of TVs and more toilet paper/water used for bathroom breaks.

Still, compared to multiple cars and more gas, I think we come out on top.

Fatigue/hermiting

I’m usually either tired or in hermit mode, so we don’t go out a lot. That’s a big savings on entertainment or being at the bar with friends.

It also means that we’re less likely to go to a sit-down restaurant. Yeah, we still need to work on our fast food consumption, but at least we’re only paying fast food prices, rather than $30+ meals.

Gardening (or lack thereof)

A lot of people down here have rock gardens. We don’t even do that much. So we’re skipping the initial investment in decorative rocks. There are some folks who keep actual gardens: grass, flowers, the works. We don’t have to buy any of that or expend water to keep it all alive.

Also, we skip the cost of yard service for trees and/or grass.

No pool

This is only partly accidental. I specifically didn’t want a house with a pool. Still, our tight budget meant we didn’t see any anyway, which is good because I might have been tempted.

Instead, we’re spared the cost of a pool service. And we never have to worry about the costly repairs. (Most require you drain and then refill the pool. Even before the cost of labor, you’re looking at a pretty hefty bill.)

No manicures

I’ve never been interested in them. Once I was vaguely curious, so I looked up the costs. That squashed any further interest in the matter.

I’m sure there are more accidental savings, but these are the ones that immediately came to mind.

Comments

Well, I like to cook. Truly. And I'm loathe to pay high restaurant prices for food that's about as good or (at times) not as good as I could cook at home. Add the many years of experience in the kitchen, and I can make dinner out of just about anything. Since I've been working from home or just home for years, no "work" wardrobe, no dry cleaning, etc. I also don't get my nails done. Have my hair cut about 3 times per year, and dye it myself to a pale blonde color that hides the gray roots… so color my hair about as often as I get it cut. Makeup worn too often breaks me out. I usually skip anti-aging anything.

Liking to cook is just about one of the best unintentionally frugal things, I think. Well, unless you go overly gourmet. But an enjoyment of cooking is great for day-to-day stuff.

Dry cleaning, wow I didn't even think about that one.

I have a layered cut, so I can't go quite as long as you. I'm going about once every two months. But at a beauty school where it's only $35, so that takes some of the edge off. (Still not as cheap as doing it at home like you.)

(continued) The car I drive was my mom's old one, and since I only drive in town occasionally, a tank of gas now lasts me close to 2 months. No car payment. Periodic maintenance. Low miles per year means lower insurance. I don't belong to a gym. Ditto any clubs. So no monthly dues. I love (LOVE) to read, but get books either free as a reviewer or for pennies buying used. My bad feet mean I can no longer wear cute shoes. That saves a bunch. I don't own a plethora of purses. DH has allergies, so no expensive perfumes, creams, lotions, etc. I ask for magazine subscriptions as gifts. DH got me Sirius radio for $7 per month as an add on for his car contract. No more CDs to buy.

-Food: I started shopping at Aldi (although that was intentional, but I've converted some people close to me), and I get meat for free from my BF's meat shop
-I workout from home now using free youtube videos I stream through my TV using a blue ray borrowed from my BF. If I do go to the gym, my BF let's me use his free guest pass. Great guy eh? 🙂
-I choose not to dress up for work. Granted, I SHOULD take more pride in my appearance (my co-workers wear suits, skirts, etc), but I stick with button downs, khaki's, loafers. Mostly due to the cost.. I simply can't afford the clothes they wear (they make double+ what I do), but partially out of laziness. I also don't wear makeup to work. Again, I think I should, but I really just don't care *sigh*

-I don't color my hair. I get a wash and trim 4x/year. I schedule the appointments in advance so I have time to save ($55 with tip, worth EVERY penny).
-I used to get my nails done in college, but quit doing that to save my poor nails from the damage
-Gave up cable almost 2 years ago. I re-watch DVDs I own, rent videos from the library, or watch regular TV thanks to my AWESOME Mohu Leaf Antenna *my boss even let me buy one for the office. On the off chance I do rent a video, it's from Amazon (but I try to use my Amazon Prime). The BF has netflix and cable at his place lol.
-Don't drink coffee, so no expensive Starbucks trips for me

I love it, too! How fun! One of my continued posts isn't up yet, but I'm thinking of all kinds of ways I inadvertently save money. Some because I'm lazy, some because I'm boring, a lot because as I've gotten older, I've become really low-maintenance… some even having to do with health stuff.

Coffee! I knew I was forgetting one. I don't like the taste, and when they add enough stuff to make it palatable it hurts my stomach.

As you know, I also gave up cable. But that was a major decision for us, so I couldn't count it as accidental. For a lot of people, though, I think it's just a general "I'm tired of the bill." Which more than counts.

We can get reimbursed by insurance if we join a gym. Big "if". But that would save a lot if we so choose. For now, I need to start looking up workout videos on Netflix.

As for dressing for work, it sounds like you're in perfectly acceptable attire. Even stuff from Ross/TJ Maxx adds up pretty quickly so…

I just feel like the frumpy office assistant at times.. when everyone around me dresses to the 9s in their business attire lol. If you need/want free workout suggestions, I'd be happy to share my favorites channels/videos on youtube (I stream through my TV)! My email is adoseoftlc@gmail.com

Oh, yes, and laziness sometimes pays off frugally… letting the dirty laundry pile up means you're always washing full loads. While I wash towels every week, I don't wash sheets every week. In fact, (blushing) it's a good month if the sheets get washed. Another lazy habit is shopping. It's incredible how much you'll save unintentionally just because you don't want to go out to a store. My wardrobe is boring. When a style/size fits, I simply stock up on additional colors when they're marked way down… if I feel like shopping. 😉

Laziness is great, isn't it? It's saved me a lot of junk food runs. ("Do I really want chocolate badly enough to go get it?") You're right about shopping. I mainly buy online, so I'm never tempted to poke my head into a Macy's for a pretty new shirt.

Unfortunately, we can't go that long with sheets, but if it works for you then who cares? Thanks to the cats and the fact that I walk around without shoes on, a lot of stuff gets tracked onto the sheets. So we change them every two(ish) weeks. Again, mainly out of laziness.

Cooking- since I do all of the cooking, and tend to start from raw material instead of already made ingredients, it saves up. Since I graduated culinary school, I can do big batches comfortably, and all of my kitchen equipment was tax deductible as an educational expense. It also saves me on holiday presents- I am still amazed at how incredibly happy my friends are to see homemade goodies instead of store bought gifts. I have friends who start asking in October if I'm going to be making a particular cookie because it's their favorite.

Working at home- California gas prices will make any frugal person want to sit down and sob. Since I don't drive to work, and we live an easy walking distance from the mass transit train in our area, we don't use the car a lot. In addition, I save on my "work attire" by stealing my fiancé's old tees (so comfy, and comforting on a stressful day).

Fidgeting- when I'm on a work call, watching TV, or generally engaging something other than my hands, I have yarn and a hook. Crochet keeps me calm and let's me process more. It also means that I have a lot of blankets, scarves, hats, etc. I sell them through local crafts fairs, and I'm considering branching out onto Etsy. The money more than pays for the booth fees, yarn, and time, so I get some profit from something that makes me more productive at work.

Hermit tendencies- Since I hate going to stores, I don't buy things I don't need (books are a need- that's my story, and I'm sticking to it). In addition, since I buy so many of my nonperishables on Amazon (to avoid going to the store), I end up saving a boatload on my shopping. I end up saving on the weirdest things, too. Yarn, for instance- one of my favorite types to work with is 6 bucks at the craft store, but it's 3 as an add on item for Amazon.

Hating heat- I'm a penguin. This means that I've sought out LED lightbulbs, really UV limiting window films, extra insulation, and other items to keep our house cooler in the summer. Between the savings on AC (and never turning on the heater in the winter), the reduction in energy, and the tax rebates… It's a chunk of change. I also just got a letter from our energy provider that said I qualified for a discount because I'd reduced my use from last year by 15% in all months. We're plowing ahead with more energy efficient upgrades- the next project is these cool lightbulbs that mean we can turn the outside and garage lights from our cell phones. No more having to leave them on so we're able to see when we get back.

Oh, and my paranoid tendencies are going to pay for themselves in 3 months. That's when the discount on our homeowner's insurance will pay for the security system we're having installed next week. It also has a monitoring service similar to LifeAlert- which is good for someone who's had fainting spells and balance issues as a symptom of a chronic condition.

Staying at home — whether for shopping or getting to work — does seem to be a biggie, doesn't it?

I like the crocheting to calm yourself. I think I heard once that it (and most other repetitive motions) are akin to petting a cat. Unfortunately, not really an option most summer days in AZ. you don't want anything extra on your skin.

I, too, am a penguin. Well, I was one. Tim's gotten me a tad spoiled on that front. But mainly it's that I'm generally perfectly happy putting on layers and/or burrowing under some blankets when I'm cold. That doesn't work with his joints.

It's awesome that your Antarctic inclinations are getting you a discount though. And getting some help with the security system costs.

And liking to cook just saves so very much money. Also, don't be surprised by how much people love edibles. We love to not have to cook, especially when the food we're being given is good. Say, from someone trained as a chef. Personally, I still miss my aunt's pesto that she gives out at Christmas. Now that mailing would be involved, it's not an option.

I think working from home just dovetails really well into the idea of adaptive living. It means you can stay healthier (cubicles being so close together means hello viruses), and you don't expend the energy that getting ready and commuting require in the morning. The fact that they save money is built into it- our culture values time spent outside the house, and puts a premium on living "in the world." Being an introvert can be a very frugal thing.

As for cooking as gift giving, I find going into the kitchen (even when I'm exhausted) almost meditative. By letting myself fall into the rhythm of chopping, or the known quantities of baking ingredients, I feel renewed. It's a place where I know I can start something, and gain a positive result in a reasonable amount of time. That reassurance and process renew me. So, to take the results of making myself feel better and wrap them up as gifts, it almost feels like cheating. The really fun thing to do is bring my friends' kids into the kitchen (I borrow children- they get free babysitting, I get to return them when they start getting grumpy). Showing kids how to make honeycomb candy (which involves the old baking soda and vinegar trick), or how to turn fruit juice into jelly, just rocks. You are a wizard in those eyes. That I get to make people happy by having them eat the results is just a great bonus.

As for crocheting in hot weather- I usually turn to making lace if it gets too warm to handle regular yarn. Since I tend to avoid sun and heat, this isn't often, but lace uses a very light material, and different stitches, so it is a restive thing to do when heat means you don't want to move.

Generally, if there's a yarn you use frequently, you can find it on Amazon. The specific yarn I was talking about there was Caron Simply Soft- it makes a nice sturdy blanket and isn't that expensive (plus the deep tael "Ocean" is pretty universally liked). I've also picked up Lions yarns inexpensively. If I know I'm going to be at a craft show that prefers high end goods to go with, I usually either comb around Amazon for the right yarn, or go to a local yarn store that specializes in hand dyed natural fibers. However, that's only if I know I'm going to be at a booth where the return on investment is highly likely.

I like doing my nails -it makes me feel more put together but i paint my own at home and often do my daughters nails as well (bonding time). A lot of family and friends know that i enjoy nail polish so i often get them as gifts or on the rare occasion i do buy i usually have a coupon for them. I usually get my work clothes from hand me downs from my mom or my friends (were the same size) or thrift shops have a lot of basics that never go out of style. I do my hair at home. Last time i cut it was about 1 year ago.

Right now i dont have any cable but that was accidental. I have an older TV and recently moved and its not compabitile with my new hookups. I've been meaning to get a new one and just get Netflix but ahh laziness / no time.

I think that'd be a nice bonding time with a daughter. And it's always nice to use free polish!

Wow, I can't imagine going a year without cutting my hair. I'm impressed. I need to keep my hair layered or my hair starts to look like a bell. It doesn't have much volume on top, and then it flares out as you go down. But oh, to not have to worry about haircuts would be lovely!

I purchase most clothing second hand or get items super cheap at Kohl's with coupons. I use coupons for just about everything. We keep our cars for a really long time. I save oodles of money by being member of a couponing/barter club. I cook a lot of meals from scratch because my husband is an uber picky eater. I will admit to take out meals several times a week but back to my husband being a picky eater. I make my own coffee in the am rather than a Starbucks habit. Our house is almost paid off, all of our cars are paid off, our son's student loans are paid off. The best deal we got was unintentional when our son won a scholarship for graduate school. I go to the beauty school for cuts and colors, spring for the ocassional mani pedi because I'm not that skilled at handling it myselt.

You should check out some of the sit down restaurants around you if you haven't kicked the fast food habit. Some of ours are actually cheaper in the long run because they serve so much food that we get two meals out of it.

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